To celebrate the UK release of Michael’s chilling flick The Iceman, we are releasing an early outtake from our exclusive shoot with the star for the reversible cover of FAULTIssue 15. Shannon also stars in this Summer’s Superman reboot Man of Steel, in UK cinemas from 14th June.

Michael Shannon was shot by Alexandra Leese at the Apartment 58 members club in London

“The people who know me know I’m a softie – I’ve never made any claims to be an intimidating person.” Inevitably, Michael Shannon has little in common with the hard, dark men he’s often typecast as. A gentle giant, his 6’4 stature folds up awkwardly as he rests atop a too-small sofa; the trademark intensity of his face lifted into a warm (albeit unusual) handsomeness by a stray light source. He emanates friendliness, nervousness – and a candid honesty.

“I could’ve easily been a complete fuck up,” he says, matter-of-a-factly. “I wasn’t groomed for success – I’m a high school drop out. Where I grew up, in Kentucky, it was hard: my mom was a single mother, she didn’t have much money.” Without a hint of pretentiousness, he adds blankly, disbelievingly: “Now I have an apartment where I look out the window at the Statue of Liberty.”